Valencia quarterback Connor Downs (14) celebrates his touchdown run in the fourth quarter against Heritage to make the score 52 – 34 at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Heritage lineman Phillip Cyr (52) recovers a Heritage fumble as Valencia defenders Luring Paialii (33) and Anthiny Hernandez (44) chase the ball in the second quarter at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson for SCNG)

Heritage running back Sherod White (9), left looks to block as Rashoud Shelton (8) runs against Valencia at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson for SCNG)

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Valencia middle-linebacker Owen Hand (45) recovers a Heritage fumble in the first quarter at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson for SCNG)

Heritage running back Sherod White (9) turns the corner to go in for the first Heritage touchdown against Valencia at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson for SCNG)

Valencia’s Mykael Wright (2) makes the catch for the first Valencia touchdown against Heritage at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson for SCNG)

Valencia running back Luring Palalii (33) runs for a the second Valencia touchdown against Heritage at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson for SCNG)

Valencia coach Larry Muir congratulates his team after their 52 – 34 victory over Heritage at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Valencia’s Reilly Royce (40) brings down Heritage runningback James Phillips (3) at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Valencia’s Parker Seitz (1) nearly blocks Heritage’s extra point by kicker Julian Gonzalez after Heritage’s first touchdown at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Heritage running back Sherod White (9) turns the corner to go in for the first Heritage touchdown against Valencia at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Valencia defenders Joshua Deneal (82) and Anthony Hernandez (44) pursue Heritage quarterback Devan Freedland (7) into the endzone as he evades a safety in the fourth quarter at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Valencia comes out for the coin toss before the game against Heritage at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Heritage comes out for the coin toss before the game against Valencia at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Valencia comes onto the field before the game against Heritage at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Valencia quarterback Connor Downs (14), left and Jake Santos (21) celebrate their 52-34 victory over Heritage at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Valencia teammates Joshua Deneal (82) and Anthony Hernandez (44) celebrate their 52-34 victory over Heritage at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Valencia quarterback Connor Downs (14) celebrates his touchdown run in the fourth quarter against Heritage to make the score 52 – 34 at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

Valencia’s Mykael Wright (2) knocks the ball away from Heritage receiver Rashoud Shelton (8) in the final minute of the fourth quarter at Valencia High School in Valencia on Friday. (Photo by Dan Watson)

VALENCIA — All season, Valencia was motivated by last year’s CIF Southern Section Division 2 football semifinal loss to San Clemente. The chance for redemption came Friday night against Heritage.

The Vikings only led by three points at halftime but Valencia’s defense refused to back down when its offense stalled late in the second half.

An interception by Parker Seitz helped start the party and quarterback Connor Downs’ rushing touchdown was icing on the cake of Valencia’s 52-34 home win that advanced it to championship game, its first since 2013.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy so we had to pick it up in the second half. It feels so much better than last year,” Seitz said.

“We wanted to get to the CIF Final and now we have to finish it off,” Valencia lineman Ben Seymour said.

Heritage cut Valencia’s lead to 31-27 in the third quarter after a 70-yard run by Sherod White. But Valencia’s defense stepped up after that.

On Heritage’s next drive, Seymour laid a hit on Heritage’s James Phillips to force a fumble that Seymour also recovered, setting up an 8-yard touchdown run by Downs. Heritage responded with a 49-yard touchdown pass to Phillips but on its next drive, Devan Freedland’s pass was intercepted by Seitz with 7:45 remaining.

Valencia’s Mykael Wright followed suit by getting a pass deflection on fourth down that led to the Vikings’ final scoring drive. The junior then added a final touch with an interception to finish a night where he also caught two touchdown passes and had five catches for 88 yards.

Downs finished 15-of-24 passing with four total touchdowns and had 297 all purpose yards, including 116 rushing. Valencia’s Luring Paialii ran for three scores and Moises Haynes ran for 146 yards on 21 carries.

White ran for three touchdowns for Heritage (11-2), which rallied from being 21-0 down in the second quarter.

“Valencia’s one of the best, if not the best team we faced all year,” Heritage coach Craig Broach said. “Defensively, they get a great job and made things difficult on us. At times they executed better than us and that’s why they won tonight.”

Freedland threw two touchdowns, including a 50-yard pass to Rashoud Shelton just before halftime to cut Heritage’s deficit to 24-21.

Owen Hand and Reilly Royce each had sacks for Valencia and Hand recovered a first-quarter fumble that led to a Valencia score.

Evan Barnes is the Daily News' prep sports coordinator and has covered high school sports since 2006 for various publications, including the Los Angeles Sentinel, Daily Breeze and Long Beach Press-Telegram. He also has covered college and pro sports ranging from UCLA, USC, the Dodgers and CSUN. Before covering sports full-time, Evan also covered news and won a National Newspaper Publishers Association award for his story on President Barack Obama's campaign in Los Angeles in 2008. A Los Angeles native and a graduate from the University of San Diego, he also has written for online publications such as Bleacher Report.

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